Tarrant County issues disaster declaration due to threat of wildfires

Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley signed a disaster declaration for the county because the current severe drought has increased the threat of wildfires that could quickly grow out of control if they spark.

FORT WORTH, Texas - Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley signed a disaster declaration for the county because the current severe drought has increased the threat of wildfires that could quickly grow out of control if they spark.

The declaration frees up resources to help the county combat wildfires.

It's also a step that must be taken so the state can follow up with a similar declaration, if necessary.

There have been recent fires that were started accidentally by things like mowing or cooking.

County officials hope this declaration causes people to pause and think about whether or not their actions could spark a flame.

Tarrant County Fire Marshal Randy Renois said the unusual part about this summer is that we’ve had triple digit temperatures since June, when those don’t typically start until August.

That intense heat, combined with dry conditions, puts a strain on firefighters.

Of the 254 counties in Texas, 234 of them are under a burn ban.

Tarrant County’s was signed on June 28, and Renois said while it’s been helpful, the public still has to be more cautious about their behavior.

Earlier this week, three homes and several other buildings were destroyed by a grass fire in Tarrant County.

Another factor is our low humidity levels.

Within the last two weeks, we’ve been landing somewhere between 17 and 35.

Renois said that in anything below 30, it’s easy to spark a fire with little effort while doing the most innocent of activities.

He and other officials agree, we need a significant rainfall in North Texas as soon as possible

"It’s getting worse and not better, and so, every day that we don’t have a fire, we’re lucky," Renois said. "I know Weatherford and places like that got rain…but what they got was not enough- it was typical Texas thunderstorms, where they pop up over a certain area and then they are gone again."

Renois said that having the disaster declaration in place helps open up more state resources to Tarrant County.

Right now, the challenge for many departments is having enough firefighters on scene, as the intense heat means they lose fluids and energy more quickly.

Two weeks ago, Texas Governor Greg Abbott renewed a wildfire disaster declaration for several counties, including Palo Pinto, where a fire destroyed five homes and burned nearly 500 acres last week.

But Dallas and Tarrant counties were not included.

On Tuesday, at commissioner’s court, Friday’s declaration will likely be extended for 90 days.

And if need be, the county will ask Gov. Abbott to be added to the list of counties on his state declaration.